DeeDee Ehrlich, Carmen Schoepske and Andrea Brune, who all taught at Midway Elementary School last year, met with state senators and House representatives as part of a lobbying coalition coordinated through the North Carolina Association of Educators.

They said they met with key politicians and members of the education committee, including committee co-chairman Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, and locally elected officials like Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson.

"We feel like teachers really need to let their voice be heard," Ehrlich said. "They are making decisions that impact our lives without ever being in education."

The Senate's most recent budget proposal cuts salary supplements for teachers who earn master's degrees after the current fiscal year. The House budget cuts the supplement unless the job requires a master's degree.

Schoepske and Brune finished their master's degree programs through Gardner-Webb University this year. Ehrlich will obtain her master's through Gardner-Webb next May.

"We didn't get it for the extra money," Brune said. "But who's going to get a master's if they don't get that monetary supplement to pay for it?"

The teachers said they also voiced concern over Senate measures that would increase class size but take away teacher assistants.

"They are going to give us this many students, with no assistants, and I don't know what type of success that is going to warrant," Ehrlich said.

Schoepske said they were very nervous before meeting with legislators; however, they were happily surprised by how welcomed they were during their visit.

"We really felt like that made a difference," said Schoepske, who will teach at Hasty Elementary School next year. "That really opened our eyes."

Brune said she hopes other teachers will help lobby issues with legislators in the future.

"Going like we did and going to sit down and chat with them, it's really not as intimidating as it seems," Brune said. "The main thing is to make sure you do it in a professional way."

Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com. Follow Nash on Twitter: @LexDispatchNash

<p>Three Davidson County teachers recently urged their state legislators to retain supplement pay and teacher assistant funding and not increase class size, among other issues.</p><p>DeeDee Ehrlich, Carmen Schoepske and Andrea Brune, who all taught at Midway Elementary School last year, met with state senators and House representatives as part of a lobbying coalition coordinated through the North Carolina Association of Educators.</p><p>They said they met with key politicians and members of the education committee, including committee co-chairman Sen. Jerry Tillman, R-Randolph, and locally elected officials like Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Davidson.</p><p>"We feel like teachers really need to let their voice be heard," Ehrlich said. "They are making decisions that impact our lives without ever being in education."</p><p>The Senate's most recent budget proposal cuts salary supplements for teachers who earn master's degrees after the current fiscal year. The House budget cuts the supplement unless the job requires a master's degree.</p><p>Schoepske and Brune finished their master's degree programs through Gardner-Webb University this year. Ehrlich will obtain her master's through Gardner-Webb next May.</p><p>"We didn't get it for the extra money," Brune said. "But who's going to get a master's if they don't get that monetary supplement to pay for it?"</p><p>The teachers said they also voiced concern over Senate measures that would increase class size but take away teacher assistants.</p><p>"They are going to give us this many students, with no assistants, and I don't know what type of success that is going to warrant," Ehrlich said.</p><p>Schoepske said they were very nervous before meeting with legislators; however, they were happily surprised by how welcomed they were during their visit.</p><p>"We really felt like that made a difference," said Schoepske, who will teach at Hasty Elementary School next year. "That really opened our eyes."</p><p>Brune said she hopes other teachers will help lobby issues with legislators in the future.</p><p>"Going like we did and going to sit down and chat with them, it's really not as intimidating as it seems," Brune said. "The main thing is to make sure you do it in a professional way."</p><p>Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com. Follow Nash on Twitter: @LexDispatchNash</p>